Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vitamin D poisoning in kittens from commercial cat food
By Wehner, Astrid et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2013·Ludwig Maximilian University, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vitamin D intoxication caused by ingestion of commercial cat food in three kittens.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two British Shorthair kittens, a 6-month-old male and a female, were brought in after showing signs of excessive thirst, tiredness, and difficulty breathing for three weeks. They were diagnosed with high calcium levels and lung issues due to vitamin D poisoning from their cat food. The male kitten received several treatments, including fluids and medications, while the female kitten improved significantly and returned to normal after two weeks. The male kitten's condition stabilized, and his lung issues improved over time. This case highlights the dangers of certain cat foods that can contain harmful levels of vitamin D.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · kitten lethargy treatment · vitamin D poisoning in cats · cat food causing illness · British Shorthair health issues
Abstract
Two siblings, a 6-month-old sexually intact male weighing 2.5 kg (cat 1) and a sexually intact female (cat 2) British Shorthair cat weighing 2.3 kg, were examined because of a 3-week history of polyuria, lethargy and laboured breathing. One year previously, another sibling (cat 3) had been presented because of similar, yet more severe, clinical signs at the age of 5 months. Physical examination revealed lethargy, dehydration and polypnoea with slightly increased inspiratory effort. Diagnostic investigation revealed severe hypercalcaemia (cats 1-3), renal azotaemia (cats 1 and 3) and a radiologically generalised miliary interstitial pattern of the lungs (cats 1-3) attributable to hypervitaminosis D caused by ingestion of commercial cat food. Cat 3 was euthanased. Cats 1 and 2 were treated with isotonic saline solution (180 ml/kg IV daily), sucralfate (30 mg/kg PO q12h), terbutaline (only cat 1: 0.1 mg/kg SC q4h), furosemide (1.5 mg/kg IV q8h) and tapering doses of prednisolone. Cat 2 was normal on day 14. Cat 1 had stable renal disease and was followed up to day 672. The radiological generalised military interstitial pattern of the lungs had improved markedly. Excessive cholecalciferol-containing commercially available cat food poses a great hazard to cats. Supportive treatment may result in long-term survival and improvement of radiological pulmonary abnormalities.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23295272/